Forming die



June 23, 1953 J. A. EXLINE, JR

FORMING DIE Filed Dec.- 23, 1949 IN VE N T012 JAMES A. KXL/NE J12 Mm HM AITOE/VEKS- Patented June 23, 1953 FORMING DIE James A. Exline, J r., Miamisburg, Ohio This invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming shallow metal articles, such as a dish, by folding or bending the metal of which the article is formed in a predetermined pattern. 'When forming shallow articles from metal sheets, it is the conventional practice toplace a metal sheet between male and female dies for drawing the metal to the desired configuration. This conventional practice necessitates accurate and expensive production of metal dies.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for'forming shallow metal articles to a predetermined design configuration by bending or folding a metal sheet to a predetermined pattern in a single operation.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for forming a metal sheet into a predetermined pattern in a single operation by forcing a metal sheet between spaced stationary elements to cause the sheet to bend or fold form in a predetermined pattern.

- It is still another object of the invention to provide a machine tool for producing the results of the foregoing objects.

- It is another object of the invention to provide a machine tool for fold forming or bending a metal sheet in which the metal sheet is clamped between moveable members and the sheet is thereafter moved against stationary members to cause it to bend at selected locations on the sheet to produce an article of predetermined shape by a bending operatoin.

It is another object of the invention to provide a forming die in which a metal sheet is clamped between a die cushion and a plunger and is thereafter moved against stationary members while clamped between the die cushion and plunger to cause the sheet to bend in predetermined portions of the sheet to bend form or fold form the sheet to a predetermined pattern.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the drawings and the following description.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dish formed by the method and apparatus of this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the forming die of this invention.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a forming die taken along line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional View like Figure 3 but illustrating the die in operation in forming the article illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a modified form of the die illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a portion of the die illustrated in Figure 5.

Application December 23, 1949, Serial No. 134,652

2 Claims. (Cl. 15376) Figure 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of another modified form of the die.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the die illustrated in Figure 7.

Figure 9 illustrates another modified form of the die.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the die illustrated in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the portion of the die illustrated in Figure 10.

In this invention the forming die consists of a base I0. An annular ring I2 is positioned upon the base l8 and is suitably secured thereto, as

by the cap screws [3.

A die cushion M is positioned on the axis of the ring 12, and internally of the ring. This die cushion l4 may be of a square shape a illustrated in Figure 2, or may be round if desired. The die cushion M is supported upon guide studs l5 placed at each corner of the die cushion M. A

' compression spring 16 is placed around each of the guide studs 15 to maintain the die cushion M in the position illustrated in Figure 3 The lower ends of the guide studs l5 are provided with enlarged heads i! that move within recesses 18 provided in the base Hi, the head ll limiting the upward movement of the die cushion M. The top surface IQ of the die cushion I4 is positioned slightly above the level of the top surface 26 of the ring l2 so that a metal sheet or disc 2! placed upon the die cushion [4 will be clamped between the bottom surface 22 of a plunger 23 and the top surface IQ of the die cushion l4 before the metal sheet or disc 2| engages the ring/ll] in its downward movement into the ring, thus positively locating the disc 21 on the die cushion beforeany forming is performed on I the disc 2|.

A plurality of pins 25 are spaced circumferentially around the axis of the ring I! and are positioned between the inner surface 26 of the ring !2 and the die cushion M, as illustrated in Figure 3. While the pins 25 are illustrated as being independently mounted on the base 18, yet the structure can be in the form of a ring positioned within the ring l2 with the pin 25 projecting upwardly therefrom. The pins 25 are spaced equi-distantly on a common circle about the axis of the ring l2 so that downward movement of the disc 2! onto the pins 25 will cause the pins to contact the disc at equi-distantly spaced points about the circumference of the disc. Also; the pins 25 are radially equi-distant from the axis of the ring l2 so that they contact the disc 2| radially equi-distantly upon downward movement of the disc 2| into contact with the pins 25.

To locate the metal disc 2| co-aXially with the ring l2 a plurality of locating pins 2'! are carried on the upper edge surface of the ring I2.

The plunger 23 may be a part of any pressure applying device, such as a hand operated arbor press or a mechanical or hydraulic press, the purpose of the plunger 23 is to clamp the disc 2| between the plunger and the die cushion I4 and to urge the disc 2| downwardly into the ring I2 and upon the pins 25. lower end 28 of the plunger 23 is equal to the diameter and shape of the portion of the disc 2| that will be unformed orunbent, this portion forming the bottom wall of the dish or receptacle 30 illustrated in Figure 1.

The pins are spaced radially outwardly of the outer periphery of the lower portion 28 of I the plunger 23 to engage the disc 2| at points spaced from the engagement of the outer periphery of the portion 28 of the plunger 23 with the disc 2| so that engagement of the disc 2| with the pins 25 will cause a bending inwardly of the disc at each point of engagement when the plunger 23 moves the disc 2| downwardly, as shown in Figure 4 on the left hand side of the illustration. The portions of the disc 2| that are intermediate the point of contact of the pins 25 with the disc 2| will bend reversely of the portions contacted by the pins 25 so that the reversely bending portions 3| contact the inner corner edge 33 of the ring l2, and thereby control the reverse bending of these portions of the disc 2|. The inwardly bending portions 32 cooperate with the outwardly bending portions 3| to provide a fluted side Wall for the receptacle as illustrated in Figure 1.

It will be understood that the spaced arrangement of the pins 25 on their circle of engagement with the disc 2| can be altered circumferentially and radially to vary the contour of the receptacle 30. Also, the particular construction of the die illustrated in Figures 2 to 4 can be modified without effecting the spirit of this invention.

Thus, in Figures 5 and 6 there is illustrated a slightly modified form of the construction illustrated in Figures 2 to 4 in that the pins 25 are replaced by lugs 25a that project from the ring |2a. In all other respects the die illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 is the same as that previously described, and its operation is the same so that common parts of the two devices carry the same reference numeral but with the suffix a.

In Figures '7 and 8 there is illustrated another modified form of the die in which the ring I2 illustrated in Figure 3 is omitted. In the form of the die illustrated in Figures '7 and 8 the pins 251) and the die cushion Mb are constructed the same as previously disclosed and described with reference to Figure 3, thus like parts carry like numerals but with the suffix b.

To replace the ring |2 of the die illustrated in Figure 3, a plurality of posts 41] are provided in the device shown in Figures 7 and 8. These posts are spaced intermediate adjacent pins 25b as illustrated in Figure 8 so that the outwardly bending portions 3| of the receptacle illustrated in Figure 1 will contact the upper corner edges 4| of the posts 40 and thereby control the outward bending of these portions in The diameter of the the same manner the ring l2 controls this bending in the device illustrated in Figure 3.

In Figures 9 and 10 there is illustrated a slightly modified arrangement of the construction of the upper ends of the pins 25 illustrated in Figure 3 to reduce the friction between the disc 2| and the pins 25 when the pins slide along the disc as it is urged downwardly between the pins 25 as shown in Figure 4.

The pins 250, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, include a socket 50 at the upper ends of each of the pins 250 that receives a ball 5|. The ball 5| is held in the socket 50 by a retainer 52.

Since the ball 5| is free to rotate in the socket 50, friction between the disc 2| 0 and the ball 5| will be less than the friction between the disc 2| and the pin 25 shown in Figure 3, and thus reduce any tendency of the pin 25 to mark the surface of the disc 2| as it slides over the ends of the pins.

While the devices disclosed and described illustrate preferred arrangements of the device and its method of forming a receptacle, yet it will be understood that modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as illustrated, and that modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be included herein.

Having thus fully described my invention; what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.. In a forming die, a base, a. die cushion, resiliently acting means between said base and said cushion supporting said cushion on said base and for resisting movement thereof relative tosaid base, a plurality of stationary rodlike members positioned circumferentially about said cushion in radially spaced relationship thereto each extending vertically and having a limited work contact surface thereon, at the upper end and wall means carried on said base positioned circumferentially about said cushion at a distance radially greater than said stationary members and having an upwardly facing work contact surface thereon disposed at substantially the level of the work contact surfaces on said stationary members. 2. In a forming die, a base, a die cushion, resiliently acting means between said base and said cushion supporting said cushion on said base and for resisting movement thereof relative to said base, a plurality of stationary rod-like members positioned circumferentially about said cushion in spaced relationship thereto each extending vertically and having a limited work contact surface thereon, and an annular stationary ring carried on said base positioned about said cushion at a distance radially geater than said stationary members and having a work contact surface on the upper edge thereof disposed substantially at the level of the work contact surfaces on said stationary members.

JAMES A. EXLINE, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 531,337 Saltzkorn et al Dec. 25, 1894 1,103,966 Holinger July 21, 1914 1,716,554 Hoff, Jr June 11,1929 2,136,308 Miller Nov. 8, 193a 

